Competitive animal, thanks to the mentality of this player Messi is world champion

Damián Emiliano Martínez was awarded the Lev Yashin for the best goalkeeper of last season in the world. At the Ballon d'Or gala he was highlighted above other goalkeepers such as Thibaut Courtois and Yassine Bounou. The current Aston Villa player won the award for the decisive performance he had in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where the Argentine National Team won the third title in its history.

The award ceremony for 'Dibu' was more than special because, in addition to receiving the award from Didier Drogba, the goalkeeper's father appeared on stage. “The 'fat man' accompanied me everywhere,” said the world champion, making an effort to contain his emotion. In the theater where the event was held, located in the city of Paris, it was logically full of French people. That was why there was an awkward moment. It turns out that the locals booed and whistled at Martínez when he was about to speak. There Drogba, co-host of the ceremony, had to intervene to ask for respect for the protagonist.

Days after the award ceremony, a teammate from Mar del Plata at Aston Villa told an anecdote that paints a full picture of the winning mentality of the Argentine National Team goalkeeper. “The ‘Dibu’ is very competitive. We are taking a bus trip watching other league games and when they score a goal against another goalkeeper he celebrates. “He wants no one to have a clean sheet,” said Pau Torres, second starting central marker for the Villains, in the first instance.

The anecdote with 'Dibu' Martínez

The Spanish defender spoke about what it means to have Emiliano Martínez as a teammate in the Aston Villa squad. "When we beat Brighton 6-1, they gave us a couple of days off and I went home to Villarreal. The next day I receive a message and he tells me: 'Enjoy yourself at home, but let's see if we can clean up the next game sheet'. And I say: 'damn, this guy! We just beat Brighton 6-1 and he's still not happy. I think that mentality is what makes him one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best.' Torres confessed in Relevo.